Paul Ludwinski’s season was cut short by a left knee injury in mid October, holding him to just three AHL appearances. With Rockford battling to stay in the playoff picture and the Blackhawks nearing a trade deadline where opportunities for added pro reps could have opened up, the timing is especially rough. Ludwinski won’t be part of that mix, and the real cost is the lost development time just as he was beginning to carve out a role in the lineup. When healthy, his pace and motor project cleanly into a reliable AHL bottom six role, with a profile that can still push toward NHL depth if the offensive details continue to round out.

Ludwinski battled through his first full AHL season, and the stat line reflects the grind, just 12 points (seven goals and five assists) in 65 games, with under one shot per night. But numbers don’t always tell the whole story. The 2022 second-rounder embraced a hard-nosed, checking role in Rockford, focusing on puck pressure, net drives, and physical play. That’s the blueprint for him right now: push pace, finish hits, win battles, and let the offense come in time. If he can start tilting the ice more consistently and generate a bit more shot volume, there’s still a path forward. In a deep prospect pool, carving out value as a bottom-six energy guy might be his clearest route to NHL minutes, and he is tracking in that direction.

The second-round draft pick out of the Kingston Frontenacs had a solid season, posting 43 points (16 goals, 27 assists) over 67 games. He has experience in playing with top-tier talent, as he frequently played with Shane Wright. Lundwinski is a hard-nosed, energetic player who can make plays around the net, which is what the Blackhawks were attracted to. He is an excellent two-way centre with a lot of speed and is known to be strong on the penalty kill. Ludwinski’s defensive skills are top-notch and will only get stronger as he matures. He will be heading back to the OHL this year and most likely next season, as the Blackhawks are expecting him to produce at a higher rate.

The Chicago Blackhawks have selected Ludwinski in the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft, 39th overall.

Ludwinski had a solid draft-eligible season on one of the better teams in the OHL, registering 16 goals and 27 assists in 67 games with Kingston. He cranked it up a notch in the postseason, notching seven goals and five assists in 11 contests before the Frontenacs were eliminated in the second round by North Bay.

Ludwinski is an energetic, versatile forward with good instincts in the offensive zone. He has a knack for playing through traffic to position himself for rebounds or as a passing option around the net, and the effort level required to capitalize in the dirty areas. He has a decent shot that comes off his blade fairly quickly, and he makes the occasional slick move at high speed. Still, he does most of his damage by making smart plays and positioning himself to take advantage of scoring opportunities. Ludwinski is a strong skater with a quick first step that allows him to pressure opposing defenses and force them into rushed decisions, most notably as he hounds pucks on the forecheck. While he can be aggressive in puck pursuit, he makes intelligent reads and doesn’t often take himself out of the play. Though he isn’t the flashiest passer, his intelligence and the speed at which he sees the game make him an effective distributor who can find teammates in space to relieve pressure. Ludwinski is also a responsible defensive player who supports the puck well in all three zones, and he proved to be a threat on the penalty kill for Kingston at times throughout the season. His skill doesn’t jump off the screen, and he will need to continue to add strength as he matures, but Ludwinski’s combination of pace and hockey IQ should have him in the running to be selected in the second or third round of the 2022 NHL Draft.